TNAG-2723-FCO40-3929-UK-opposition-parties-and-Hong-Kong-1993 — Page 20

AM17/3

HKB 011/9

RECE IN REGISTRY

# Copy the Clewelys Hay Kay

( Follows up the sls talk with the Caverner)

2. M. Maris 1713

Misspelling

Mr/Ricketts

24 MAR 17

PA

REGISTRY

Acco. Taken

pa. Relation

w ...Rand

From: Edward Bickham

Special Adviser

Date: 17 March 1993

CC: PS

PS/Mr Goodlad Mr Hum

M

PADDY ASHDOWN

1.

As we agreed I telephoned Mr Ashdown's Private Secretary this morning. I briefed him on the coverage of the Foreign Secretary's statement in Hong Kong but expressed the reservation that the all-Party consensus behind the Governor's proposals had not come across as strongly as we would have wished. I thanked him for Sir David Steel's remarks but said that Mr Ashdown's background and knowledge gave him particular standing in Hong Kong and China. I suggested that the Governor would be most appreciative if Mr Ashdown were to say something supportive in the next few days. We talked briefly about the Chinese reaction and the reasons for the breakdown in the move to talks about talks. The suggestion will now be put to Mr Ashdown with, in his Private Secretary's view, a good chance of positive results.

Ем вл

Edward Bickham

pa